We are delighted to offer this Austin-Healey 3000 that may only be described as exceptional. JVS 302 was built at the Warwick factory on 29th and 30th November 1960 and dispatched to the USA on 23rd January 1961. The British Motor Industry Heritage Trust Certificate states that this Austin-Healey was dispatched in lefthand drive format with wire wheels, overdrive, heater, adjustable steering column, laminated windscreen, road speed tyres and finished in Healey Ice Blue with blue matching trim and hood. Little history of the car is known prior to 1976 but from this time until 1989 it resided with various owners in California. During this period the engine underwent a rebuild. In October 1989, the car was imported into the UK from California by Innes Ireland, the well-known and talented racing driver from 1950’s. A year later, the current owner spotted the car advertised in a local newspaper in Berkshire. Our owner states, “I had no intentions of buying a big Healey but was interested in seeing it considering it was only five miles away and anyway, I was happy with my Frogeye at the time. When the Healey’s big straight six was started, I fell in love with it, it sounded gorgeous and I was determined that it was going to be mine. I left a deposit and asked a car restorer to check the car over and he gave it the thumbs up. The car was tired looking but running and totally complete with its original panel work.”

A total, documented/photographic, restoration began in 1990 whereby it was discovered that the Healey had not suffered structurally, the chassis and all body panels being original and the only repairs required being to the outer sills and no more than two inches of the bottom front area of the rear wing sections. All the original components were kept with no replacement parts but unfortunately, due to having been laid up and open to the elements in the Californian sunshine, all of the trim leather required replacement. Everything was refurbished and during this time, the Healey was converted to righthand drive. The restoration was completed in 1992 and since has been lovingly maintained and kept in dry storage and only used sparingly on dry days, along with the other examples of the vendor’s private collection. The result of the restoration was stunning resulting in several concours awards being achieved. The Healey has been constantly well maintained by the leading Austin-Healey specialists and today, this matching numbers Healey still looks as fresh as the day the restoration was completed, a tribute to the standard of that restoration and a credit to the owner for maintaining that standard over 27 years. Supplied with the car is a comprehensive history file and includes the UK V5 registration document, the afore mentioned British Motor Industry Heritage Trust Certificate, log books including USA bills, receipts and an original Austin-Healey 3000 Driver’s Handbook signed by Margaret Healey.

The Austin-Healey 3000 has endeared itself to enthusiasts worldwide, not least for those who remember the sight and sound of this muscular British sports car roaring to spectacular success in international rallying; with this, the quality of the restoration, the calibre of the former owners and the condition this Austin-Healey is presented in, it would be difficult to find a finer example anywhere today.

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Interested parties should satisfy themselves as to the description and condition of each lot prior to the sale. Buyers are advised to inspect the car in person or use a professional to carry out this service.